Savannah Monitor

[Maldesto]

I think im going to get rid of my beardeddragon and get a Savannah monitor. I am really into stuff that gets big and grows pretty fast.

 

[PaganDragons]

I had a Nile monitor and it was Big and mean and not much fun to own...

 

[Maldesto]

I'm getting it as a baby, for the simple reason, if you get them while their old they are agressive, if their owner did not train them. I am going to tame it as soon as i get him/her

 

[PaganDragons]

I'm getting it as a baby, for the simple reason, if you get them while their old they are agressive, if their owner did not train them. I am going to tame it as soon as i get him/her

yeah the one I had got full grown. I have 3 kids now when I had the monitor I was younger and single. It was a lot of fun to feed it. there was no trying to get that guy to eat he was vicious with his food, would leave little blood spatters on his tank lol. Looking back I did love the thing then, I guess my perspective has change a little as did my life. They well never be as docile as a BD. They still struggle and tale whip when being picked up at first. And Nile monitors are notoriously hard to tame....

 

[keschete]

Just out of curiousity, how could you "get rid of" your beardie?

You talk about your pet like he is a piece of furniture. I find that odd. I personally love all my animals and could never just "get rid of" one of my pets to replace it with another pet.

If you can't stay commited to a pet, then what happens when you have a 4 foot long savanah monitor and decide to "get rid of it" and get a komodo dragon, so you can satisfy your urge to own an animal who can severely injure you or others?

I am not trying to be mean to you, but your post shows a lack of commitment that all pet owners and ESPECIALLY owners of exotic animals should be concerned about. People who are not commited to keeping exotics responsibly put all of us at risk for the government to further regulate exotic animal trade. There are lots of people in Florida who "got rid" of their pythons and monitors by letting them go and now there is a real risk to native species and humans because of the lack of care and nonchalance about owning exotics.

I am very upset and saddened by this post!

 

[bambichik39]

Just out of curiousity, how could you "get rid of" your beardie?

You talk about your pet like he is a piece of furniture. I find that odd. I personally love all my animals and could never just "get rid of" one of my pets to replace it with another pet.

If you can't stay commited to a pet, then what happens when you have a 4 foot long savanah monitor and decide to "get rid of it" and get a komodo dragon, so you can satisfy your urge to own an animal who can severely injure you or others?

I am not trying to be mean to you, but your post shows a lack of commitment that all pet owners and ESPECIALLY owners of exotic animals should be concerned about. People who are not commited to keeping exotics responsibly put all of us at risk for the government to further regulate exotic animal trade. There are lots of people in Florida who "got rid" of their pythons and monitors by letting them go and now there is a real risk to native species and humans because of the lack of care and nonchalance about owning exotics.

I am very upset and saddened by this post!

Couldn't agree more. I'll leave it at that so I don't get too rowdy

 

[demonsmomma]

dont savannah monitors have posinous stuff in their mouth?? i duno i could never get rid of max he is my whole entire life,,sad that a lizzard is my life but i love that lil dude...

 

[keschete]

Most of the larger Varanid lizards do carry certain bacteria in their mouths, just like humans. A bite can lead to serious infection if not treated with antibiotics. This serves to infect the animal bitten so the monitor can track it down and take advantage when the infection sets in and the victim becomes weak.

There was an interesting show on Discovery channel about a man who kept several un-caged Varanids and they ended up partially eating him. They think he became ill after a bite and refused to seek medical attention due to his hoarding tendencies. The show is called Fatal Attractions.

Human bites are actually very nasty and need to be treated with antibiotics. So being bitten by any of the Varanids, is of concern. The Agamids, that include the beardies and frilled dragons, as well as many others, are not as serious when considering bite wounds.

Don't get me wrong, I think people should be allowed to own exotics and poisonous species as well as larger reptiles. But when the general population gets involved and has a nonchalant attitude, then these animals become a problem. When that happens, our government starts to place restrictions on everyone. So it is REALLY important for people to be responsible when it comes to buying and caring for larger snake species and Varanids. Varanids are notoriously smart and can be quite aggressive. So they should be on the same level as poisonous snakes. Not a beginer reptile, but for experienced or serious reptile keepers.

Consider this, when a reptile can be target trained, it is pretty smart and most of the Varanids are able to be target trained...like trained to see an object and to come for food rewards. These are not animals for the beginner.

 

[Phoenix17June2009]

this is interesting !!

 

[demonsmomma]

i saw that fatal attractions episode me and max where watching it together and when they showed a lizzard my moms like oh no its about beardies and im like no way mom beardies are very docile..she didnt agree max has bit her once but she was playing with his mouth and he didnt like it ..but we proved her wrong on the show it was those nasty lizzards..yuck i dunno im bias i dont even like iguanas i think no lizzard is better than a beardie..

 

[spyder79]

Most of the larger Varanid lizards do carry certain bacteria in their mouths, just like humans. A bite can lead to serious infection if not treated with antibiotics. This serves to infect the animal bitten so the monitor can track it down and take advantage when the infection sets in and the victim becomes weak.

There was an interesting show on Discovery channel about a man who kept several un-caged Varanids and they ended up partially eating him. They think he became ill after a bite and refused to seek medical attention due to his hoarding tendencies. The show is called Fatal Attractions.

Human bites are actually very nasty and need to be treated with antibiotics. So being bitten by any of the Varanids, is of concern. The Agamids, that include the beardies and frilled dragons, as well as many others, are not as serious when considering bite wounds.

Don't get me wrong, I think people should be allowed to own exotics and poisonous species as well as larger reptiles. But when the general population gets involved and has a nonchalant attitude, then these animals become a problem. When that happens, our government starts to place restrictions on everyone. So it is REALLY important for people to be responsible when it comes to buying and caring for larger snake species and Varanids. Varanids are notoriously smart and can be quite aggressive. So they should be on the same level as poisonous snakes. Not a beginer reptile, but for experienced or serious reptile keepers.

Consider this, when a reptile can be target trained, it is pretty smart and most of the Varanids are able to be target trained...like trained to see an object and to come for food rewards. These are not animals for the beginner.

It is true varanids are extremely smart. As far as evolution is concerned the varanid is the level in the reptile world that primates/humans are in the mammal world. They are the top of the game, the most evolved. Larger varanids can self regulate their temperatures to an extent without having to move into areas of higher or lower heat. Varanids can be target trained (as mentioned above). Also, varanids can learn patterns and solve complex situations. And you can never truly tame one either. A aquantance of mine back in North Carolina had a beautiful Varanus Salvadorii (Crocodile Monitor, same level as Komodo). This animal was supposedly "tame". He had had this monitor since he was a hatchling. I commented on the fact of me thinking he was an ***** for the way he handled the monitor but fluffy wouldnt hurt him he would say. He has multiple tendons that have been torn apart and has basically lost use of his left hand because fluffy decided one day he did not want to be touched.

If you do not know how to catch the smallest changes in the behavior of a varanid than you do not want to get a giant. If you want monitors start with a dwarf, something like an ackie, they still pack a nasty punch but are easier to "tame" and handle.

There is nothing beginner about owning a monitor just like there is nothing beginner about owning an Iggy. People just do not understand what they are getting when they go after owning an animal like that.

And in reference to the bacteria in their saliva. The largest danger comes from alergic reactions to the bites and secondary infections. But at the end of the day if you get bitten by a giant monitor the infection is going to be the least of your worries cause they can and will completely ruin your day.

So in summation, unless you know what you are doing, stick to the less dangerous species until you are ready for something that could possibly be deadly. And even if you feel you are ready note that they can get the best of us. Sterling exotics in Jacksonville nc breeds giant snakes (condas and retics and burms) and they have been doing this for many many years. And even they get tagged often because these types of animals are true predators and can never be fully tame.

Good luck.

 

[keschete]

Excellent response, I think the OP is considering something different if you notice the other post about reptiles.

For anyone reading this, please, please research the species you are interested in. There are so many choices out there and when you make the wrong choice, then the animal will suffer and you might suffer as well.

Monitors are fantastic, powerful, intelligent animals and they are amazing. I admire them and would love to own an animal like that, but it isn't realistic.

 

[spyder79]

Excellent response, I think the OP is considering something different if you notice the other post about reptiles.

For anyone reading this, please, please research the species you are interested in. There are so many choices out there and when you make the wrong choice, then the animal will suffer and you might suffer as well.

Monitors are fantastic, powerful, intelligent animals and they are amazing. I admire them and would love to own an animal like that, but it isn't realistic.

I had the pleasure to work with many monitors over the past few years working at a reptile rescue in NC. But I do not have the time to donate to owning one. It isnt an animal that you can get tame and then just let it alone. They will "un-train" themselves quickly.

It is sad when you see people go to a pet store and spend 40 bux on a sav and within 2 years that sav gets abandoned or is allowed to die because it got too big and was hard/impossible to handle. Of course the same can be said for most large reptiles. Tegus will turn nasty just as fast as a monitor.

Anyway, I am ranting now haha.

 

[keschete]

I am looking forward to meeting you at the show in New Orleans! It is nice to see sensible reptile owners.

My local pet store has a baby Nile and it breaks my heart, because I know no good can come of that. He is about 8 inches long and you can tell he is observing you. He watches you from under his 1/2 log. They make me think of Velociraptors... :mrgreen:

 

[spyder79]

I am looking forward to meeting you at the show in New Orleans! It is nice to see sensible reptile owners.

My local pet store has a baby Nile and it breaks my heart, because I know no good can come of that. He is about 8 inches long and you can tell he is observing you. He watches you from under his 1/2 log. They make me think of Velociraptors... :mrgreen:

Thats essentially what they are. Raptors are theorized to have been the "thinkers" of the dinosaur world. Working off of far more than just instinct. Varanids are the same way. They are thinkers. If you look into the eyes of a croc monitor he will be looking right back at you figuring you out, searching your weeknesses, planning for an attack if needed, and typically the only sign a monitor will give you prior to attacking is its pupil's pinpointing and its body becoming extremely rigid, then you are screwed so to speak.

And I look forward to meeting you as well. I sent you a PM needed to some "local help" if you have the info.